The Invisible Rules of the Zoe Lama

Cohen's use of the first person here makes Zoe really come alive, and the character is very entertaining to follow, especially with her wry humor. Very nicely done, an engaging story.

Things are getting tough for Zoe Monday Costello. She already hates Mondays (for obvious reasons), and now that her grandma is completely losing her marbles, it seems like Mondays aren't the only days that make Zoe want to stay in bed with the covers over her head. But, she has an obligation to show up at school every week day, ready to dispense advice upon request from her clients, everyone from her numbers one and two best friends in school (BFIS) to kids at the water fountain. Even their teacher sometimes needs a little reassurance that she's wearing the right outfit. Where would they all be without the wisdom of the Zoe Lama? Who can resist the one girl who has all the answers and shares them freely? The girl who knows the unwritten rules of the universe? Zoe has everything we look for in a character: quirkiness, humor, charm, intelligence, and problems. Heaps of problems that keep growing and keep readers wondering what Zoe will get herself into next. The best part of this charmer of a book is definitely the funny factor. How can readers not love a book with a chapter titled, "Sometimes Death by Puckered Parrot is Worth the Risk"? Delve in with confidence. It'll be worth the read, guaranteed! Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince

Canadian author Tish Cohen and author of debut novel, Town House (soon to be a movie, filmed in Boston), has published her first young adult (children's) book, The Invisible Rules of the Zoe Lama. But WHO is the Zoe Lama? So here's the scoop: the Zoe Lama has these 'invisible rules' you see, and you need to know them for school survival. Zoe is a heroine and has been ever since she was yay high - or smaller, when she took away the powers of the school bully. That brought everyone, and I mean, everyone, teachers and kids alike, to Zoe's doorstep, looking for advice. Want to know what to wear? Want to know who is vile and most vile? Want to fit in? Zoe will help each and every one of you. Zoe is the kid we all dream we knew in school. Zoe lives! But, if Zoe loses her powers or trouble comes her way - will people help Zoe? Ah, but you have to read it to find out. Tish Cohen has a great, zany style that will uplift you and release your creativity - adults and children alike are reading Zoe Lama - I read this first and then Tish told me, as well! A hearty and enthusiastic TWO THUMBS UP! * * * Excerpt: "I actually don't hate the Zoë Lama part as much as I pretend to hate it, even though I didn't exactly sign up to be the ruler of nearly everyone around me. "It started when I was just a kid. At home, it might have had something to do with not having a father around to do helpful fatherish things, like knowing when to up the bran in Grandma's cereal or how to use clear nail polish to stop a run in Mom's stockings. With teachers, it just sort of happened. Wa-ay back in kindergarten. "Kindergartners, as everyone knows, are a mess. They've got runny noses, missing teeth, shoes on the wrong feet and stubby bangs they've sawed off with safety scissors--just to see if it would work. Every time they pull off a boot they lose a sock, and if anyone, anywhere is going to lick an icy handrail, you can bet your favorite underwear it'll be a kindergartner. Not only that, but they talk with a lisp and fall in love with their teacher. "Well...some do. "It's not that I thought Mr. Silverberg was going to leave his wife to marry me. I wasn't stupid. Besides, I barely came up to his knees. I just liked being around him and invented all sorts of reasons to help him. I organized the washable marker bins, shined-up the building blocks and sorted my classmates' boots from biggest to smallest to teacher's. "After a while, he started to count on me to help and asked me to pass out papers, help on field trips and, most importantly, watch the class while he popped out for a smoke--his one and only putrid habit. And when Ms. Narck, the elementary school principal, dropped by, I always had the perfect cover for him--he ran out of burnt sienna crayons, he accidentally stapled his tie to his thumb, his wife drove her car into a pond. "A six-year old can dream, can't she? "I learned two things that year. First, even if your teacher's